Palliative Treatment of Malignant Esophagopulmonary Fistulas with Covered Self-expandable Metallic Stents (semss). a Single Center Experience.

AIM The aim of our study was to determine the efficiency of SEMSs in patients with esophagopulmonary fistulas, regarding fistula closure, enhancement of dysphagia scores and survival rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 2004 and June 2014, from a total of 133 patients who underwent stent placement procedures, 26 were diagnosed with esophagopulmonary fistulas. In 19 cases the fistulas were caused by esophageal carcinomas and in 7 cases by bronchogenic ones. 16 patients developed aspiration pneumonia, 3 lung abscess and 7 subclinical fistulas. RESULTS Complete fistula sealing occurred in 26 patients (100%). There were no immediate procedural complications except chest pain in 5 cases. After sealing of the fistulas and antibiotic treatment, pneumonia has regressed. After stent insertion, the dysphagic syndrome improved significantly (mean dysphagia scores decrease from 3.28 to 1.3 after stent insertion). The main goal of palliative therapy in patients with unresectable cancer and esophago-pulmonary fistulas is to close the fistulas, thus preventing the aspiration of saliva and food into the bronchus. Other goals include amelioration of dysphagia symptoms, maintenance of oral intake and improvement of quality of life. Ultimately covered expandable metal stents may increase survival rate as compared with other therapies. CONCLUSIONS The endoscopic placement of covered SEMSs is the treatment of choice for malignant esophago-pulmonary fistulas.